Giant mottled eel (Anguilla marmorata) fish species and information / pictures of Giant mottled eel - Anguilla marmorata

Giant mottled eel (Anguilla marmorata) fish species information

Scientific Name
Anguilla marmorata

Common Name
Giant mottled eel

Biology
Vertebrae: 100 - 110. Adults have a brownish to black marbling on their back on a greyish yellow background. This coloration can fade away. White belly. Younger specimens are greyish to orange and the marbling is less visible (Ref. 48622). Body color brown speckles scattered on back, sides and fins; yellow between speckles and edge of pectoral fin; belly white or pale blue (Ref. 45563). Head rounded; snout depressed; lower jaw protruded; gill openings small; scales matted-like under skin; pectoral fin rounded; pelvic fin absent (Ref. 45563). Distinguished from all other species by the mottled color and the long dorsal fin, which begins closer to the gill opening than to the anus (Ref. 9828).

Classification

Classified By

Quoy & Gaimard, 1824

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Eels and Morays (Anguilliformes)

Family

Freshwater eels (Anguillidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: East Africa to French Polynesia, north to southern Japan. Africa: inland Mozambique and lower Zambezi River.

Range

24°N - 33°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

400 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; catadromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 1 - 400 m (Ref. 6898)

Trophic Level

3.79 s.e. 0.67 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

70.0 cm

Common Length

26.3 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (75 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (tmax=40)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated